These investors got re-christened as FPIs or Foreign Portfolio Investors last year under a new regulatory regime that promises to make it easier for them to invest in India.

Of the total inflow, most of the investment was accounted by debt markets, which analysts attributed to measures taken by RBI and Sebi to attract long-term overseas investors.

RBI and Sebi last week amended their norms for foreign portfolio investments, asking them to make their future investments only in corporate bonds with minimum residual maturity period of three years.

However, there would be no lock-in period and FPIs would be able to sell the securities to domestic investors.

Besides, FPIs are allowed to invest their coupons received on investments in government securities back into such bonds. These investments would be allowed even after the FPIs having fully utilised the applicable limits of USD 30 billion.

In 2014, the net investment by overseas investors into the debt markets was Rs 1.16 lakh crore, while in equities it stood at Rs 98,150 crore.